Incubator mechanism



Oct. 20, .1931. w. FVHILLPOT INCUBA'YI'OR MECHANISM Filed March 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l "0a. 20, 1931. D 'w, HILLPOT 1,827,984

INCUBATOR MECHANISM Filed March 26,1928 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

van 1 Patented Oct, 2Q, 1931 f Uni-Ten; STATES sz ieea WIL IAM EINNEYI-IILLIOQDF rnnnon'rowiv, imw annsnv Y J Y IIIVNGUZBATOR MECHANISM? Y -My invention relates to mechanism of the general character described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States 1 ,489,597 granted tome April 8, 1924 and 1,5455425 5 granted to me J uly 7,1925, wherein the meansfor supporting eggs include a vertical series ofltrays each supported by detachable connection with a plurality ofvertically ex- [6 tray is pivotally supported sothat'it may be tllted, to and from horizontal positlon, and inclined in either of two opposite directions to turn the eggs, withv the ob-ject'and efl'ectj o'f'preventing the embryos fromlsticking to the shells; and'each tray may be'progressed vertically during the incubating period, from the place of introduction of the fresh eggstto the place of discharge of the hatchedchicks.

ing movement, independently of its vertical movement of progression, but'is capable of being contemporaneously tilted and .progressed. That is to say the portions of the Y..- mechanism respectively operative tojeflect ing endless chains are,used to support the tray'sand means other than said supporting chains are employed to hold the trays'in any position in W'hichtheyEmaybe tilted such means being required because the trays are equilibrium. I invention is operative with but three'vertitrays are supported, f in stable equilibrium, in every positionof inclinationyby saidchains;

i t th ne s ity ,otl mp oy g th r,

holding means.

all of the trays in avertical'series may be simultaneously tilted; merely by relative movement of their supporting chains; which chains; may b efsimultaneouslymoved to pro;- 56' gr'e'ss' all of the trays in that series-without tending endless chain-belts; whereby, each 7 Each ofsaid trays has freedom. for such tilt-r.

Letters Patent, four such vertically eXtend- 'tion. v pivoted upon axes coincident with their cen tersof gravity and thusnormallyin unstable. On the contrary, my present,

cally extending. suspension chains and the,

Moreover, the construction and arrange, ment of my PI'QSGDtlIlVGIltlOn are suchith'at v I Application filed March 26, 192s... sem -1mm. 26 4,82 2.

changing their inclination, or, as aboveiconv templated, the chainsmay beshifted-to c ontemporaneously efi'ect tilting and progressing movement of the'entire series oftrays V which theyjsupporta v H I My lnventi'on ncludes the various novel featuresof. construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified,

In said drawings; FiggIis a fragmentary, T I

diagrammatic,perspective view of a vertical series of egg trays supported by three vertlcal chains respectively suspended from chain;

Wheels on three rotary shafts.

Fig. iII is an end elevation of one of the.

trays shown in Fig. I, indicating the range of its inclination withrespectto its'pivotal 7 hand edget'hereof;

connections with'the two chains at' the leftig III s an elevation of the stop gears whereby the tilting movements of the trays are adjustablylimited.

Fig; IV is an elevation of theworm gearing whereby the turni-ngmovements' of the shafts shown in Fig. I are controlled. Fig. V is an elevation of the stop dial and pins whereby the loweringmovements of the trays are'adjustably limited.

Fig. VIis a fragmentary perspective view;

of a portion of the side frame ofrone of the trays provided; with pivotal'v suspension meansq 9 I 1 Fig.v VII isafragment'aryplan view of an incubator structure embodying my inven- TFigQVIIIi a plan viewof the backing barshown diagrammatically in Fig. I; Referringto Fig. Igavertical series-of similar. trays 1 are supported, with freedom for tilting and verticalbodilymovement. by the three 1 vertically 1 extending flexible conne'ctors 2, 3Jand 4 which are conveniently .endless-chains with which-each of-said trays l is adapted to be independently detachably connectedby respective pivot means 5,@ and 7 which may be ofany suitable form adapted. 01? detachable insertion in and j pivotal I .en-.

gage'ment with an iope'ning in suchconnectors,

such .as La :link of a chain... For 'finsta nce, as 3 shown in Fig. ,VI each Ofasaid'fpivot members may include: baseflange 9 adapted lot temporaneouslyturned in the direction-of the that by relative-movement of saidchains,

each of said trays 1 is adapted, to be tilted, upon its axis coincident with its pivot means 6 and 7, which are substantially at theleft hand edge of the tray, and to and from horizontal position. and be inclined in either-of two opposite directions to the limit indicated in FigII. 3 V p It maybe observed, with reference to'F'ig. II, that the'common axis of the pivot means 6 and 7 being at the extreme edge of the tray; the latter is always overbal'anced toward theri'ght'tO stress the chain 2 downwardly by the weight of thecontents of the tray and thus maintain each tray in stable equilibrium upon its 'three points of support 5, 6 and 7; However, said points of support may be dispos'edotherwise than as indicated in Fig; I. i i

As indicated in FigkI; the'connectors 2, 3 and 4' are preferably endless chains respectively suspended from chain wheels 12,

v 13 and 14, respectively rigidly connected with rotary shafts1 5, '16 and 17, an'ditisto be understood that when said shafts are 'conarrows upon said wheels, the entire series of trays may be bodily lowered ;to thusprogress eaclrt-ray from the position of insertion of, fresh'eggs "in the incubator, at the upper portions of said chains, to the position of discharge of chicks from the trays atthelower portion of said chain's. AlsoJthat the tilt-J ing; movements of said trays above described may lie effected by relative vertical movement of said chains. For instance, the chain 5 2 maybe shifted, up orI down, while the chains3 and 4 remain stationary,,with the effect of tilting all of'the trays-'1, simultaneously, either'up'ward or downward, and to the extent indicated in Fig. II. Moreover, it' is to be understood, that the trays {may be tilted contemporaneously with their downward three shafts 15,"16"anfd 17, to coordinately effect the above contemplated movements progressive movement by. proper movement of'said chain 2 in coordination with the other chains,'as hereinafter described 'In Fig. IV, 11am shown a convenient" worm gearing mechanism for actuating said thereof. Said mechanism includes-"the: me!

tallic bjaseiframe 19 which 'may be rigidly con nected -withithej vertical support "20 which 'may a"timber stu dfin or at a wall of the incubator inclosure in which said trays '1' y y are suspended, Said frame a'journalf bearing 22 for the shaft 15, which carries said chain wheel 12, and said shaft is provided with the worm gear 23 in mesh with the worm 25 which has its shaft 26 journaled in the bearings 27 and28 on said frame 19. The construction and arrangement is such that said worm holdssaid worm gear and the shaft 15 stationary exceptfwhen said worm is turned, and such turning movement may be conveniently eflected by the crank .wrenchBO, indicated ;in, Fig. IV, which is fitted toengage the squared wrench hold 31 upontheshaft of said worm.

Said worm shaft 26 has the spline key 34 for rotaryengagement in the hub of the gear wheel 35 which is axially movable thereon but is normally pressed. outwardly, by the sprin'g'36 tending to shift said gearout of engagement with the gear 38. Said'gear 35 may be 'provided iwith the set screw 39, or

other suitable means, by which it may be se- T cured either in the idle position shown orin mesh with said gear 38'. Said gear 38 is rigidly mounted on the shaft ,41 of the worm 42, which is journa'ledin the frame 43 which may also be rigidly connected with the same vertical support 20, and has thejournal 45 forthe shaft '16 upon which is'rigidly mount- .ed the wormgear 46 in mesh withsaid worm' 42. Said shaft 16 carries the'b'elt wheel 48 con'nectell by the belt 49pwi th the belt wheel 50 on said 17 j Saidbelt 49 is conveniently afchain, but is referred to as abelt in the claimstoavoid confusion with thetray suspensi'on'chains 2, 3 and 4' and connects said shafts 16 and 17. for simultaneous turning movement. l

The construction and arrangement above described are such that when the pair of gears 351and 38 are in theldisconnected position shown in Fig; IV; thetrays maybe tilted by turning movement ofthe worm 25 while the trays are prevented from bodily movement downward by the worm 42 remainin g station- However, by turning both of said worms 25 and 42 contemporaneously, said trays n ay'be contemporaneously tilted and lowered and such contemporaneous movement may beeffectedQby ndependent turning movements of said worms, while the pair of gears 35 'an d'38are disconnected, in the position shown in Fig. IV. However, when said gear is shifted to the 'position indicated' in dotted lines in IV andthere secured, in mesli. with" the gear turning 'movement of e ther of said worms, conven lently efiected by the crank wrench'30, efi'ects.

simultaner ms lowering 'movement of all off the chains 2, 3- and whilepreservingthetrays. 1n whateverpositioniofj inclination they may happen -bei- It is not desirable toftilt more 7 thanforty-five degrees with respectto the.

horizontal plane, and I prefer to' provide means to prevent overturning them. For inc'ated in. Fig. 111" and the range of; tilt ng stop "projections 54, which 1 are conveniently cylindrical pins, which may be screw threaded at their innerendsfto prevent accidental .dislodgment thereof. The arrangement is such- ,thatwhen :the trays are in horizontal position, said stopjgearzis in theposition indimovementislimited by said stop pins 54c:'alternately "encountering said driving. gear 52. Of. course,i;n that form of stop mechanism, itis necessaryto remove said stop pins when itis desired to bodily lower the trays,

When, as isusual, itis desired: to lower the entire series of trays,step by'step, convenientlyinfstepsequal to -the spacing of the trays in the series;-I find itfconvenient to provide stop means Wherebythe lowering movements ofthe' trays are adjustably limited. A convenient form of such means is indicated in Figfl-V, Whereinthe stop dial 56is supported in stationaryjposition, in concentric relation with the sh aftlfi and has a circular-series of six sockets 57 therein for step pins 58-which are successively encountered by the stop projectionv60 which. is normally rig-idly mounted'on said shaft. When it is desired to-lower saidtrays; the stoppin 58 with which the shaft stop 1310160- tion-60 isin contact in Fig. V, isjremoved to permit turning movement of said shaft 16, and replaced when said shaft projection has passed its socket in s'aid dial. a.

r vorder to facilitate engagement of the on the traysl in proper relae pivot means 7 tion with the links of the cha n 4, which is most remote from the operator; I find it'con-' venient to support. the reach of said chain which is to be thus engaged, by means of a vertically extendingbacking bar 61, as indicated in Fig. I, which may berigidly supported, in stationaryposition, by'an'y'suit-- able-means, for instance, by brackets connecting it With the adjacent'wa-llof the'in cub ator inclosure. Said inclosureimay, .be, in the form: of a room including wallswith suitablebearing supports for said shafts 15,-, 16"and 17. However, the mechanism-above I described may be supported in any con-V venientfmannerby. any suitable means; I

It isto be partieularly noted that the loca'-- tion of the flexible connect'ors by which; the

traysv aresupported at their front ends at construction or' arrangement of the 'means the extreme opposite edges of-those ends, fa:-. cilitates the introduction of-the traysbetweeni those connectors and into detachable engage ment. therewith; regardless of the specific whereby those connectors are, or may be, op erated to .efiect tilting L and lowering movements of; the trays Moreover, such location a of'the tray supports permitslthem to tempo-f slid to and from engagement with said flexible supports; which loading device is the subject matter of my copending'application Serial N 0. 264,321 filed March 24, 1928, for Letters Patent of the United States. 9

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction,'arrangement or procedure he'rein'set'forth,as

it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from$the essential features of .my invention, as defined in the appended claims;

I claims z f g Y 1. In anincubator. egg tray supporting mechanism,-the combination with a plurality of-pendent flexible connectors,iarranged to support a tray :betweenthem; :of a tray hav ing means, I affording respective points" ofsuspension in engagement with said con nectors; shafts arranged to move' all'of said I connectors, simultaneously, to lowersaid tray and arrangedto'relatively move said connectors totiltsaidtray; the axis of tilting movement of Said tray being substantially at one edge thereof; whereby said tray may be selectively tilted up and'down, while said axis is held stationary, and while said axis isbeing lowered, and may belowered whilepreserving its angle of inclination" '2. Inpan, incubator egg tray; supporting mechanism, the combination with only three pendent flexible connectors, arranged to support a tray between them; of a tray having means affording three points of suspension its in respective engagement with said conned-'- tors';;-shafts arranged to move all ofsaid connectors, simultaneously, to lower said tray; and one of stud shafts arranged to relatively move one of said' connectors to tilt sa d trayathe axis-of tiltingmovement of, said tray being substantially at one edge thereof; whereby said tray may be selectively tilted up and down,while two of said con-f nec'tors andsaidaxis are held stationary, and may betilted while all of said connectors and said axis are being. lowered,and may be lowcred, by'simultaneous movement o'fsaid con nectors, while preserving its angle of inclination.

respective-wheels fixed on said shafts and arranged tosupport said chains; and. means connecting two of said shafts for snnultane ous'turning movement. V

4; Mechanism as ln clalm 3. Mechanism asinclaim 1; 'Whereinthe connectors are endless chains, and including v 2'; wherein 'each I of two of said shafts has aworm gear-rigidly mounted thereon; and two Worms j 'respec tively in mesh with said worm gears," where;

said worms are turned bysaid-shafts are held stationary except'when '5. Mechanism as in claim 2;-'wherein'eaclioftwo ofrsaid shafts has a Worm gear rigidly mounted thereon; two worms respectively in mesh withsaidworm gears; whereby said shafts are held Stationary except when said worms are turned; and a pair of gears respectively carried by the two worms and relatively movable to and from meshwith each other; whereby all of said connectors may be simultaneously moved to lower said tray when said pair of gears are in vmesh, and one of saidwormsmay be turned, independently of the other, to tilt said tray, when said pair of gears are outiof mesh.

6. an incubator egg tray supporting mechanism, the Combination with only three chains,-arranged to support a tray between them, with two chains substantially at one edge of saidtray and'pivotally connected therewith; the other'chain being pivotally connected with the opposite side of said tray; 1 q of shafts arranged to move said three chains together-to lower said tray; and one of said shafts arranged to relatively move one of said chains tax-tilt said trayup and down, upon an axis substantially at one edge thereof; whereby tilting and loweringmovements of said tray mayabe effected in coordinate relation. V 4 l 7.111 an incubator eggtray' supporting mechanism, the, combination with three chains, arranged to support a tray between them, with two chains at one side and one chain at the othersid-e thereof;-:of means arranged to movesaid three chains together, to lower said tray; and arrangedto'relatively move one of said chains to tilt said tray,rincluding' three shafts having respective chainj wheels rigidly; connected'therewith and respectively supporting said chains; means coordinately connectingsaid shafts, arranged to turn said shafts simultaneously, and permit the turning of one shaft inde pendently of the other two'shafts; whereby tilting and lowering movements'of said tray :may be effected in coordinate relation; said connecting means including worm gears on two of said shafts, two worms inlrespective cooperative relation with said worm gears;

a pair of gears respectively carried bysaid worms; 7 said pair of gearstbeing relatively axially movable to and from mesh wlth each other; and one of said two shafts provided.

with worm gears connected with the third shaft, for simultaneous tu'rningmovement;

whereby tilting andwlowering movements of said tray may tion; 7 I v v 8.111 an incubator egg tray supporting mechanism, the combination 'with three chains, arranged to support a tray between them, with two chains'at one side and the third chain at the opposite side thereof; of three suspension means carried by said tray respectively detachably pivotally engaging saidchains means whereby said third chain be, raisedand lowered'tovtilt said tray;

be effected in coordinate relaup and down upon its pivotal connections with the other two chains, includinga rotary shaft rigidly connected with a chain wheel, from which said third chainis pendent; and means limiting the tilting movementof said third chain, including a driving gearfixed on said shaft, an. idler stop gear in mesh therewith, and two removable stop projections on said stop gear; saidstop projections limiting the range, of'tiltingmovement, by alternate contact with said driving gear. Y

9.- In an incubator'egg tray supporting mechanism, the combination with three chains, arranged to support a tray between them, with two chains at one side and the third chain at the oppositeside thereof;,of three suspension means carried by said tray respectively detachably pivotally engaging said chains; means whereby said third chain 7 from which the other two chains jare'respe'ctively suspended; and means cooperatively connecting said three shaftsrwhereby all-of saidchains may be simultaneously lowered to lower saidtr'ay, when said stop ections are removed from said idle gear; '10. In an incubator egg tray supporting mechanism, 7 the combination with three chains, arranged to support a tray between them, with two chains at one side and the third chain at the opposite side'thereof; of

three suspensionmeans carried by said tray respectively detachably' pivotally engaging saidchains; means whereby said third chain may be raisedand'lowere'd to tilt said tray up, and down upon itspivotal connections withthe other two chains,'including a rotary shaft rigidly connected with aichainflwheel.

from which said third ch'a'inis pendent; two other 1 shafts respectively {carrying chain wheels from whichithe othertwo chains are respectively suspended; means cooperative- .ly connecting said three shafts; whereby all i of said chains may be simultaneouslylow' ered to lower saidtray; and 'mean'sfadjust iiio ably limiting such lowering movement, 'in-' eluding a stoppr'ojection carried by 'one'of saidshafts and a second'stop projection movable to and from the projection. r

'11. In an incubatoregg tray supportingi mechanism, *the combination with three chains, arranged'to support a tray b et ween path of sai'd firststop them, with two chains at one side and the third chain at the opposite side thereof; of three suspension means carried by saidtray respectively detachably pivotally engaging said chains; means whereby said third chain may be raised and lowered to tilt said tray up and down upon its pivotal connections with the other two chains; including a rotary shaft rigidly connected with a chain wheel, from which said thirdchain is pendent; means limiting the tilting movement of said third chain, including a driving gearfixed on said shaft, an idler stop gear in mesh therewith, and two removable stop projections on said stop gear; said stop projections limiting the range of tilting movement, by alternate contact with said driving gear; two other shafts respectively carrying chain wheels from which the other two chains are ously turned, by rotation of either of said worms, while said pair of gears are in mesh;

ible connector arranged to detachably sup port the rear end of a tray, andmeans connecting said shaft and one of said worm carrying shafts; and whereby, when said trays I are connected to said connectors, said trays are tilted when only one worm carrying shaft is turned, and are moved vertically whensaid gears are in mesh and turned.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvana; this Twenty-second day of December,

192 f WILLIAM FINNEY HILLPOT.

respectively suspended; means cooperatively connecting said three shafts; whereby all of said chains may be simultaneously lowered to lower said tray, when said stop projections are removed from said idle gear; and means adjustably limiting such lowering movement, including a stopprojection carried by one of said shafts and a second stop projec-V tion movable to and from the path of said first stop projection.

12. In an incubator egg tray supporting 13. Mechanism as in claim 12; including means adjustable to cooperatively connect said worms; whereby said worms may be turned simultaneously to lower the trays, and c be turned relatively to tilt the trays.

14. Mechanism as in claim 1; wherein the connectors are endless chains, and including respective wheels fixed on said shafts and arranged to' support said chains; and means connecting two of said shafts for simultaneous turning movement, including an endless belt.

15. In an incubator egg tray supporting mechanism, the combination with two rotary shafts carrying pendent flexible connectors, adapted to detachably engage and support trays; of worm gears fixed on respective shafts; worms respectively in cooperative relation with said worm gears; a pair of gears respectively carried by said worms and relatively movable to and from meshed relation; and spring means arranged to normally hold said pair of gears out of mesh; whereby said shafts are prevented from turning, while said worms are stationary, and may be simultane- 

